GLOUCESTER, MA – Union head coach Nate Leaman was named one of eight finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA).

 

Under Leaman's guidance, the Dutchmen (26-10-4, 17-3-2 ECAC Hockey) set school records for overall wins as well as conference wins. Union captured its first-ever Cleary Cup with a 5-0 win against Princeton on Feb. 26, clinching the ECAC Hockey regular season title. Leaman earned ECAC Hockey's Tim Taylor Award for Coach of the Year for the second straight season. The Dutchmen earned their first trip to the NCAA Tournament, securing a No. 2 seed in the East Regional before bowing out to Minnesota-Duluth in the regional semifinals.

 

Union went 14-1-1 in its final 16 regular season games, all against ECAC Hockey opponents in helping seal the conference title. Union's conference record was the best by an ECAC regular season champion since the 2004-05 season. Leaman's squad posted a 29.5% success rate overall on the power-play which was tops in the nation. The Dutchmen only surrendered 2.10 G/GM which was second in the nation at season's end.  The Union defense has held its opponents to two or fewer goals 24 times this season.

 

Leaman moved to No. 1 on the all-time school wins list with his 123rd win on Dec. 31 at Minnesota. Leaman passed the previous mark held by Charlie Morrison (1978-88), who posted a career record of 122-146-9. In eight seasons with the Dutchmen, Leaman has posted a record of 138-127-35.

 

The Spencer Penrose Award is named in memory of the Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first ten NCAA championship hockey tournaments. It will be presented at the AHCA Coach of the Year Banquet in Naples, Florida, on Saturday evening, April 30. The winner will be announced following the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship scheduled for April 7 and 9 in St. Paul, MN.